Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona immigration hardliner who has reportedly formed a "posse" to focus on birtherism and who's been courted by the GOP presidential hopefuls, is trying to dabble in federal fundraising, per the AP:

The formation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's political action committee came as three Republican presidential hopefuls and other GOP candidates across the country seek his endorsement.

Chad Willems, chairman of Arpaio's committee known as JoePAC, said the five-term sheriff wants to play a more active role in congressional and U.S. Senate races across the country. Election law prohibits him from pulling money out of his own re-election account to contribute to those candidates.

"He really wants to step it up in this coming election cycle," Willems said, adding that the PAC will let Arpaio make direct contributions to federal candidates and pay for ads that advocate his views on any given issue.